It heads generally southward along the eastern banks of Schoharie Creek, continuing the course set by its parent route through northwestern Greene County.

Along the way, the route serves numerous state-maintained parking areas providing direct access to the creek,[4] a popular trout stream among fly fishermen.

The road, previously level, begins to climb gently and steadily as it heads away from NY 42 and into the center of Greene County.

[4] Once past the village, the fire tower on Hunter Mountain's 4,040-foot (1,231 m) summit becomes visible to the south as the highway continues to climb in elevation.

The road levels off just west of Palenville, where it crosses the Long Path hiking trail and leaves the Catskill Park.

[8] Palenville, a small hamlet at the eastern edge of the Catskill Escarpment,[8] is marked by a traffic light at the northern end of NY 32A, a connector that shortens the trip to the Hunter–Tannersville area for those coming south on the New York State Thruway (Interstate 87).

It reaches NY 32 itself at an undeveloped intersection prior to crossing Kaaterskill Creek and the Thruway near the grades of an abandoned interchange.

From the Thruway, it heads generally northeastward through a small valley to the western edge of the village of Catskill, where it ends at a junction with US 9W.

The road, closed in mid-June,[14] was repaired at a cost of roughly $5 million and reopened in late November in time for the Thanksgiving holiday period.